In it Carey Winfrey, the retired editor of Smithsonian magazine and a former Marine, talks about the history of the presidential salutes. He points out that his USMC instructor taught him never to salute without a hat or when he was out of uniform.

He goes on to say that the tradition of presidents — sans hat nor uniform — to return salutes started in 1981 with President Ronald Reagan. Winfrey explains:

"He had sought advice on the matter from Gen. Robert Barrow, commandant of the Marine Corps. According to John Kline, then Mr. Reagan's military aide and today a member of Congress from Minnesota, General Barrow told the president that as commander in chief he could salute anybody he wished. And so it began."